Martha Medeiros

Martha Blossom Medeiros, a radiant soul who graced this world with her joy, passed away on December 21, 2024. She was born to Thomas and Mildred Underwood Blossom on April 23, 1951, in Durham, North Carolina, along with her identical twin sister Mary Blossom Springle. They grew up alongside their sisters Frances Caughey and Katherine Eleanor Blossom. Martha graduated from Cox High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1969, and continued her education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she met her future husband, James Phillip Medeiros. She graduated from UMass with a bachelor’s in English in May of 1973, and held her wedding to James the day after graduation on Orchard Hill at UMass. She completed her education in 1977, earning a master’s in English from the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

Martha was a lifelong lover of literature, music, chocolate, and coffee. Her greatest love was the family she proudly raised with her husband James: her son Geoffrey Jaime Medeiros and his wife Sally Ann Medeiros and their son, Connor Luther Medeiros, her son Matthew Kelly Medeiros and his wife Burns Maxey, daughter Elizabeth Blossom Medeiros and her husband Kevin Bradley Pickens and their children, Fife and Roan Elden Medeiros-Pickens, and daughter Rosemary Medeiros and her husband Sebastian Imlay. Along with her immediate family, Martha also found deep enjoyment being a loving aunt and “aunt mom” to her eight nieces and nephews in the Blossom family.

As an English teacher, Martha inspired students for 28 years, culminating her career as the chair of the English department at James Wood High School in Winchester, Virginia. During more than 30 years living in Winchester, former students often took time to fondly say hello to “Mrs. Medeiros” when they saw her around town.

After retiring to Oak Island, North Carolina, Martha and her husband pursued their passions by giving back to the community as volunteers at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, and in the Oak Island Beach Ambassador program. She also loved to go to the beaches on Oak Island and swim, walk, and identify shells.

Martha’s musical endeavours were the frosting that sweetened the chocolate cake that was her life. She always had a song on her lips whether she was performing, doing household tasks, or singing with her beloved twin. Martha sang baritone in the Shenandoah Valley barbershop chorus in Winchester for many years, and also sang baritone in a quartet — Blue Ridge Blend. Even during her long illness, Martha found solace in singing at home with her family band, The Martha Medeiros Experience, filling the air with songs by The Beatles and other artists.

She will be treasured by those who knew her for how her smile brightened every place she went, and her gentle and sweet disposition.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to encourage a contribution to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401, or The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, 2700 Horizon Drive, Suite 120, King of Prussia, PA 19406.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Martha will be announced later.

Online condolences may be made at www.peaccknewnamwhite.com

Peacock - Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service, Southport, North Carolina.